Children (SC)

Most accidents happen in the home. If you have children you’ll be used to casting an eye over any new place you take them to check for potential hazards. Depending on how old they are you could take them on a tour of the house and point out where to take care. Here are some things to look out for.

• In the kitchen check out what’s on the worktops, where the electrical appliances are and how quickly the cooker cools down.
• Check there are no curtains or blind cords hanging down that children could get caught up in.
• Test out free-standing furniture such as book cases, occasional tables and the tv to see if they can be easily be pulled over.
• Lay down some ground rules about only using the pool or balconies if there is an adult supervising.
• If there are glass doors make sure children check these are open before running through them. It may seem obvious but in bright sunlight it’s often hard to tell if they are open or closed.
• Check the windows – are these at a height where they could be a potential danger for children if left open?
• Are there electrical sockets children may play near? If you are concerned about little fingers finding their way into these you may want to buy some plug protectors.
• Look at outside areas – are there steep steps, areas around the pool or plants where children need to be careful?